Dulux Diamond Satinwood Review

My name is Joe Elwick, and I am the owner of a small Painting & Decorating business based in Greater Manchester. I offer a reliable, efficient & professional service in all aspects of painting & decorating. I was kindly asked by AkzoNobel (Dulux) to try out their recently released Dulux diamond Satinwood in a real-world situation and provide my honest review.

Of course, I was happy to do so as I’m a regular Dulux Trade customer anyway. I have in fact, used Dulux Diamond Satinwood on quite a few occasions, and feel I can give a more accurate insight into the product.

This is a fully water-based satinwood paint, available online, or any Dulux Decorating Centre in Brilliant White, or just about any tinted colours. Tin sizes are 1L, 2.5L and 5L.

Using Dulux Diamond Satinwood

Tough, durable, non-yellowing/suitable for high traffic areas/stain and grease resistant/advanced water-based technology/quick drying times/low odour

Typical uses

Interior use on wood and metal,

Recommended drying time

Touch dry in 2 hours, recoat time is 6 hours.

First impressions

On opening the tin, the colour was a vibrant brilliant white and looked fantastic. As I began to stir the paint, I realised that the consistency was quite thick and gloopy but knew this could be due to the cold temperature I had stored the tin. Like most water-based satinwood paints, it would need a little thinning to get the best results. With this in mind I decided I was going to first try it without thinning so I could fully understand the product and adjust accordingly after first use.

Application

I applied the product over existing white oil-based gloss woodwork that had yellowed over time. I sanded back the woodwork using a combination of my Mirka Deros and sanding pads, making sure that the glossy surface matted out and at the same time, exposing the whiter undercoat underneath…this is the same method I use on all water based trim paints over old oil based.

Dulux recommend using their QD undercoat over problem surfaces such as old oil-based gloss. However, I wanted to really push the limits of the satinwood for the purposes of this review, and adhesion to old oil-based gloss is a fantastic test for any water-based paint.

After damping down the surface, I proceeded to apply the Dulux Diamond Satinwood. Straight away it felt thick, gloopy and generally quite difficult to apply with complete satisfaction. It was drying very quickly and pulling before I had chance to properly spread the product to the desired thickness. I was using my Proform blaze angled brush.

I persevered and managed to apply my first coat. After about 5 minutes I went back over my work and I realised that there was a couple of sags, which I presumed was due to the thickness of the paint.

Not a massive issue on the first coat, all you need to do is keep an eye on the surfaces you’ve just painted, and knock runs out as they occur. One massive positive that did stand out was how solid the paint was on drying. It was noticeably better than a lot of the products I had already tried, and it was touch dry in 30 minutes.

Adjustments

Making sure the product is stored in a warmer environment/thin the product with clean water or conditioner by 5% which is the maximum it recommends on the data sheet.

Conclusion

After the above adjustments, the paint was noticeably thinner in consistency. Application was easier, smoother and I was given more open time to allow the product to flow better. I find longer strokes are both achievable and beneficial as long as it is the correct consistency, making sure the product is not over worked. The satinwood was touch dry in around 30 minutes and I recoated after 4 hours, even though the instructions recommend 6-hours. I can only presume that by recoating it earlier than recommended, will just increase the overall curing time.

The sheen level for a satin is average in my opinion. It is difficult to compare to other water-based satinwoods without applying side by side in the same environment.

After curing, this product is one of the toughest water-based finishes I have used so far, if not the best!! In fact, it was rock solid after 24 hours and passed a scratch test with flying colours as you can see for yourself if you click on the video below. Click here to see online prices.

Overall, I am very impressed with Dulux Diamond Satinwood when compared to similar products on the market. I would say it is one of the better performing products available over the counter for sure and is currently ‘my go’ to water-based satinwood.

I would definitely recommend this product as an alternative to an oil-based satinwood. It’s perfect if your client requires a hard wearing satin finish that will not yellow, low odour, low VOC, dries quickly and allows more than one coat in a day.

You can buy this product from any Dulux Decorating Centere and many other stockists. If you don’t qualify for a trade discount, then it may be cheaper to buy this product online. Click here to see online prices.

Summary

Best Tools to Use to Apply Dulux Diamond Satinwood

As with any water-based paint, the tools you use to apply Dulux Diamond Satinwood will make all the difference in terms of finish. So, I thought it would be useful if we added a little section on the best tools to apply it.

You will need a microfibre roller for the larger areas, and it needs to be capable of applying an even layer of paint without causing orange peel. Our recommendation is Two Fussy Blokes, which not only performs well in terms of paint application, but there is no need to de-lint it before you start. Click here to see latest prices.

As for the brush, The Purdy Monarch Elite XL is perfect when applying any water-based satinwood. It keeps its shape whilst cutting in, but it’s soft enough to lay-off. It also has a nice thick stock, so it holds loads of paint. Click here to see current prices.

FAQs

Can you use Dulux Trade Diamond Satinwood outside?

Dulux Diamond Satinwood is acrylic-based, which means it’s too brittle to be used outside really. It’s likely to fail after a year or two. However, there are plenty of good exterior satinwood options available for exterior painting.

Can you use Dulux Diamond Satinwood on radiators?

You can use Dulux Diamond Satinwood on radiators. It will effect the efficiency of the radiator slightly, but that doesn’t stop people. Make sure you use a good adhesion primer first.

What roller is best for Dulux Diamond satinwood?

You can apply Dulux Diamond Satinwood with a mini roller. The two I recommend to people are Axus Décor Silk Touch and The Two Fussy Blokes. Either of these rollers will give you a fantastic finish and won’t shed.

How long does it take to recoat Dulux Diamond Satinwood?

You should wait at least 6 hours between coats of Dulux Trade Diamond Satinwood. Rushing the recoat time will result in your paint dragging and excessive surface tension.

Can you spray Dulux Diamond Satinwood?

You can spray Dulux Diamond Satinwood. However, the paint does tend to sag and run, so stick to spraying thin coats.